Washing-machine



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model) J. 0. AUSTIN.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 325,306. Patented Sept. 1', 1885.

WITNESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 J. O. AUSTIN.

WASHING MACHINE. No. 325,306. Patented Sept. 1. 1885.

HY M, fl mmgimm i i M I WITNESSES W101? .To all whom it may concern.-

UNi'rED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JOHN OVERTON AUSTIN, OF BONHAM, TEXAS.

WASHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,306, dated September 1, 1885.

Application filed August 18,1853. (X0 model.)

Be it known that I, JOHN O. AUSTIN, of Bonham, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVashing-lllachines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in washingmachines, the object of the samebeing to provide a machine of this character which shall be simple and economical in construction and durable and efficient in use; and with these ends in view my invention consists in certain details in construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side View of a machine embodying my in vention. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective with the top raised. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal vertical section of my machine, showing the sack containing articles to be washed applied to the drum.

A represents the body of my improved machine, preferably made of wood and metal and of semicircular shape, with its ends B, which are made of wood, depending about one half its depth, and the sides 13 extending the en tire depth thereof. To the body A is attached by suitable means a bottom, 0, constituting a boiler, made of copper or any other suitable material, and provided with a hole, I), which is adapted to be closed by a stopper, the object of the said hole being to let oif the water contained in the boiler when desired.

Thelaterally-projecting flanges E are made ofmetal and attached to the boiler C,as shown, the object of the same being to afford a suit-able support for the machine upon the heater.

F is a drum provided with the spindles G, which rest in the slots H of the body A.

I is the top of my machine, secured to the body A by hinges J, and provided on its upper end with the slots K, and on one face with the door L, as shown, the said door being for the purpose of introducing the clothes to the drum and removing them therefrom and is of any desired size.

M are bearing-plates, provided with openings N and 0, respectively, at their upper and lower ends, and adjustably attached to the top I in any suitable manner.

P is a cylindrical rubber, provided with a suitable crank, Q, which latter is journaled in the openings N of the bearing-plates M. The rubber P is made preferably with a smooth face; but a rubber with a roughened or corrugated face is desirable when clothes of large weight or thickness are to be washed. The top land the rubberP are so constructed and secured that when the top is lowered the rubber impinges against the drum F, and its pressure is regulated by the springs S, which are secured to the plates M by means of the openings 0, as shown, and to the clips T, which latter are secured to the bars U. The bars U are secured to the body A by staples V.

The top I and the body A when brought together, are secured by means of the hooks V, which are fastened to the body by suitable means and lock with the pins X in the top I.

Y is a heater, provided with a door, Y,and chimney Z, and is so constructed that the boiler C may rest within its frame upon the flanges E of the boiler.

Having described the construction of my machine, I will now proceed to describe the operation of the same, which is as follows:

Sack a, of dimensions in proportion with the drum, having its ends and one side slit and provided with strings at its side edges for closing it,is now placed with one end resting on the drunnwiih the balance resting on a board or table resting alongside of the machine. A layer of clothes is spread out from end to end on the sack, and over which are placed thin slices of soap. Another layer of clothes is placed over the clothes and soap thus laid, and the process is continued until all the clothes are in the sack. The disengaged sides of the sacl; are now folded over the clothes and fastened moderately tight, thus preventing the clothes slipping from the position in which they are placed. The sack is now wound or wrapped around the drum with its ends slightly overlapping, so as to enable the rubber to be in constant contact with the clothes on the drum, and is secured thereon by the cords I), attached to the opposite ends of the sack.

' \Vhen it is desired to wash bed-quilts or blankets or other thick and heavy articles,the use of the sack is dispensed with.

Having adjusted the articles to be washed, the top I is lowered and the rubberis brought in contact with the clot-hes on the drum, the crank Q is turned, thus causing the rubber P, which impinges against the drum F, to revolve, and the operation is commenced.

If boiling is desired, a fire is started in the heater Y and the sack is disengaged from the drum 1 thereby permitting it to fall into the boiler C. When the clothing has been sufficiently boiled and it is desired to rinse the articles, the water in the boiler is permitted to escape. After the boiler has been emptied and refilled with clean Water, the sack is again attached to the drum and the rubber turned, as previously described.

To wring the clothes it is simply necessary to remove the water from the boiler and turn the rubber, which, by means of the springs S, which are adjusted for the purpose, exerts sufficient pressure on the clothes to express the water therefrom.

It is evident that slight changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention; and hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact constructionshown and described, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a washing-machine, the combination,

with a boiler having laterally-projecting 'to the body, of a drum situated within the body and over the boiler, a rubber journaled in the cover, and devices, substantially as described, for yieldingly holding the rubber in contact with the drum.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination, with the boiler, body, and top hinged to the body and provided with oblongslots, ofadrum journaled in the body, a rubber the spindle of which rests and moves in the oblong slots of the top, the plates connected to said spindle,

and springs for yieldingly holding the rubber in contact with the drum, substantially as set forth.

3. In a washing-machine, the combination, with the heater, the boiler resting on the heater, the body secured to the boiler, and the cover hinged to the body, of the flanged drum journaled in the body, the rubber journaled to the cover immediately over the drum, the movable plates forming bearings for the rubber-shaft, clips secured to the oross-bars,and springs connecting the plates and clips, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN OVERTON AUSTIN.

\Vitnesses:

T. E; VANLANDINGHAM, J. W. SANDERS 

